Filter & Sort
Opinion
Our Friend, Frustration
The first assignment has come in. We all have some explaining to do.
Opinion
Blogging with Grace and Clarity
My mom majored in English…. I did not. Articulating jumbled packages of thoughts into a coherent story ... sometimes I struggle with that. When I stroll through myriad posts within the student affairs blogosphere, I am consistently impressed with the level of thoughtfulness, vulnerability, forward-thinking, and love. Love for the profession, care for colleagues both near and far… it’s energizing to read so many wonderful posts. There are so many great writers within the student affairs profession.
Opinion
FOMO (The Fear of Missing Out) and MOOCs
Everyone’s jumping on the MOOC bandwagon, it seems, with the announcement today of 17 more universities partnering with Coursera. But why the rush when it seems clear that these online experiments are just that -- experimental? Certainly universities see this as a marketing opportunity. I argue that it’s also “FOMO” -- the fear of missing out.
Opinion
Schoolhouse Showdown
A historical study of clashing values in teachers' unions appears as Chicago teachers suspend strike. Scott McLemee asks the author for context.
Opinion
Going on the Job Market, ABD
In the first of a two-part column, Gerry Canavan reviews the initial preparations and minimum requirements.
Opinion
Chapel Hill’s Sad Lesson
Holden Thorp’s resignation as North Carolina’s chancellor shows that “putting presidents in charge” is a hollow slogan in big-time college sports, writes Robert Malekoff.
Opinion
Shaping Department Culture
By this point in the semester you're beginning to get the lay of the land. You've navigated the administration of classes, bookstores, parking passes, and coordinated the eight different campus offices required to pay for it all. You are likely carrying several more pieces of plastic in your wallet and have dozens more passwords floating around in your head than you did a month ago. You've hopefully also gained at least a vague sense of what is expected of you as a student, as a TA, and as a colleague. Often such expectations are not written down anywhere and get relayed inconsistently if at all.
Opinion
Picking Up the Twenty
Economists aren’t known for being funny on purpose, but this one isn’t bad.. An economist and his grad student are walking across the quad when they spy what looks like a twenty dollar bill on the sidewalk. The grad student looks at the professor for cues, and notices that the professor is still walking. The grad student asks “aren’t you going to pick it up?” The professor responds “if it were really a twenty, someone would have picked it up by now.”